What is Japanese udon? Introducing the history of udon and recommended ways to eat it

Japan's food culture is diverse and has many delicious dishes, but udon is one of the most popular foods, loved by both Japanese and foreigners. I'm sure many people would like to know about the history of udon and the many different ways to eat it.

In this article, we will introduce the history of udon and the various ways to eat it.

What is udon? ?

Udon is made by adding water to wheat flour and kneading it into noodles. It is commonly eaten in Japanese-style soup.

Cooking methods and ingredients used vary depending on the region.

History of udon

The history of udon dates back 1200 years. There is a legend that Kukai, a native of Kagawa Prefecture, brought back the technique of making udon from China, where he traveled as an envoy to the Tang Dynasty, and spread it. Kukai, also known as Kobo Daishi, is the founder of the Shingon sect. He is also famous as a representative Buddhist monk of the Heian period, and when he went to Chang'an as a monk to study abroad, Kukai, who had a strong desire for knowledge, acquired various knowledge such as Buddhism and civil engineering, as well as the food that was eaten there. It is said that he also brought back some udon noodles.

Recommended way to eat udon

Eat simple with udon noodles

Kake-udon is a dish in which udon noodles are boiled and topped with hot dashi soup. You can enjoy the original texture and sensation of udon noodles. If you like, you can add green onions, tenkasu, ginger, etc. to create a variety of udon flavors.

If you want a hearty meal, we recommend putting tempura on top or eating it with rice balls.

There are several chain udon restaurants in Japan. They include Marugame Seimen and Hanamaru Udon.

Eat at the end of the hot pot

Udon not only serves as the main dish, but also serves as a finishing touch by adding it to the leftover soup in the pot. Udon is very easy to eat, and the taste of the noodles themselves is not too strong, so they blend well with the soup.

Please try adding udon noodles to the end of the hot pot.

summary

Although udon is a traditional Japanese food, it is loved by many Japanese and foreigners for its simple taste and wide variety. Please be sure to enjoy local udon when you visit Japan.

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